ESA Help Please

benrben

New to the boards & after some help re ESA, would be really grateful if anyone could explain what happens next, as we have never been in this situation & not really sure how it all works.
I've been ill for some while, I claim DLA HR mobility & MR care, I've been struggling trying to continue in education, but on my specialists advice have given up for a while, because of this my mums tax credits stopped as did my child benefit (I'm 18 btw), so I put in a claim for esa, received the ESA50 form, sent that back with all my specialists letters over 4 yrs & supporting letters from my OT & other healthcare professionals.
My mother rang jobcentre plus today to see whether atos had received the forms (2 weeks & not heard), they had no idea, so she rang the atos cr number she found on the net, she spoke to a lady who said the forms had been received & sent back to the DWP 2 days later on the 5th Oct, there was no need for a "face to face" appt, does this mean I'll be able to continue to claim or does it mean I've been rejected?
Thanks in advance for any help

Muttleythefrog

This sounds like good news. You cannot fail the WCA (work capability assessment) without a medical unless it is you who has failed to comply with the requests to attend one.

The lady at ATOS seems to indicate they have closed their file. If they've closed their file it means they feel they've done what the DWP has asked them to do which is provide advice on you in relation to the WCA (the assessment which looks to see if various statements of disability apply to you across various physical and brain related areas of function). Often a face to face medical is required to do that but it seems one wasn't required here for fact finding. As it seems they sent their advice after only two days following receipt of what you sent (including ESA50) then it is unlikely they had time to contact your GP to complete a form etc. So it would appear that what you sent was sufficient for them to provide their advice.

The ATOS advice will be in the form of an ESA85A report. You should call the DWP (number at top of DWP ESA letters) and ask for a copy of this ESA85A ATOS report... although be prepared to face someone on the phone who may not have a clue what they're talking about... if necessary tell them ATOS closed their file a week ago and should have sent this document. It is highly likely that in the coming weeks the DWP will effectively rubber stamp the ATOS advice in the ESA85A as their decision. WHen you either get a decision or receive the ESA85A then you could return here for advice. But it does sound like you have passed the WCA and the question then would be which of the two groups in the main phase of ESA are you going to be put into (WRAG or Support group).

benrben

Thankyou very much for your reply, my mum (who is my carer) rang them for me after reading this (mainly because my cognitive baseline is 7mins & my short term memory is poor), she spoke to someone who said that the last entry on the computer was 5th sept so not sure if they've received the forms back from atos, so couldn't provide me with a esa85a, they said that they would email another dept to ask them to call us, which they did, unfortunately it was whilst I was in with my specialist OT, so a message was left to say they did have the forms & I would hear something within 2 weeks.
My mother will phone again on monday to request that form, we really appreciate your help